Wednesday, April 2

Today's Grace

I pray for the grace to cooperate with God in mission by surrendering; I surrender all.

Scripture/Reading

In the Hands of God
by Pedro Arrupe, SJ

More than ever I find myself in the hands of God.
This is what I have wanted all my life from my youth.
But now there is a difference;
the initiative is entirely with God.
It is indeed a profound spiritual experience
to know and feel myself so totally in God's hands.

Is 49:8-15 Thus says the LORD:
In a time of favor I answer you,
on the day of salvation I help you;
and I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people,
To restore the land
and allot the desolate heritages,
Saying to the prisoners: Come out!
To those in darkness: Show yourselves!
Along the ways they shall find pasture,
on every bare height shall their pastures be.
They shall not hunger or thirst,
nor shall the scorching wind or the sun strike them;
For he who pities them leads them
and guides them beside springs of water.
I will cut a road through all my mountains,
and make my highways level.
See, some shall come from afar,
others from the north and the west,
and some from the land of Syene.
Sing out, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth,
break forth into song, you mountains.
For the LORD comforts his people
and shows mercy to his afflicted.

But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me;
my Lord has forgotten me.”
Can a mother forget her infant,
be without tenderness for the child of her womb?
Even should she forget,
I will never forget you.

Reflection Questions

Do I have Pedro Arrupe's trust in God, no matter what? Am I growing more and more toward surrender to Providence? Is my life and work becoming more and more about God and less and less about me?

Today, what spiritual gift or grace might I need in order to turn over my entire life and work to God? I ask God for that gift or grace.

Reflection

Chapel of the conversion of St Ignatius in Loyola, Spain. The caption over the altar reads “Aquí Se Entrego à Dios Iñigo de Loyola” (Here Ignatius of Loyola handed over himself to God).

Other Resources

As swimmers dare
to lie face to the sky
and water bears them,
as hawks rest upon air
and air sustains them,
so would I learn to attain
freefall, and float
into Creator Spirit’s deep embrace,
knowing no effort earns
that all-surrounding grace.

From “Practical Mysticism” by Evelyn Underhill:

We know a thing only by uniting with it; by assimilating it; by an interpenetration of it and ourselves. It gives itself to us, just in so far as we give ourselves to it; and it is because our outflow toward things is usually so perfunctory and so languid, that our comprehension of things is so perfunctory and languid too. The great Sufi who said “Pilgrimage to the place of the wise, is to escape the flame of separation” spoke the literal truth. Wisdom is the fruit of communion; ignorance is the inevitable portion of those who “keep themselves to themselves,” and stand apart, judging, analyzing the things which they have never truly known.

Since St. Ignatius bought a printing press in 1556, the Jesuits have been involved in communications. Today the Society of Jesus publishes a number of award-winning journals and publications. Click below to access our latest issues.

America - 8/03/15

America - 7/20/15

America - 7/6/15

Our Mission

The Society of Jesus – Serving the Catholic Church for the greater glory of God.

Get Involved

Click here to sign up for our award-winning enewsletter, learn about upcoming events and participate in our advocacy campaigns.

Support Us

No matter your connection to the Society of Jesus, there is an opportunity for you to partner with the Jesuits and become part of their work.

Jesuit Retreat House on Lake Winnebago

Located 80 miles north of Milwaukee, the Jesuit Retreat House on Lake Winnebago welcomes men and women of all faiths to its silent preached and directed retreats.